Luke 21

And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.

And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.

And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:

For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.

And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,

As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?

And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.

But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.

Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:

And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.

And it shall turn to you for a testimony.

Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:

For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.

And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.

But there shall not an hair of your head perish.

In your patience possess ye your souls.

And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.

Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.

For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.

And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;

When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.

So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.

Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.

Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives.

And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.

What does Luke 21:36 mean?

Explanation

The verse Luke 21:36 comes from the Olivet Discourse, where Jesus is speaking about the end times and the coming of the Son of Man.

In this verse, He admonishes His followers to be vigilant and to constantly pray so that they may have the strength to endure the tribulations and temptations that will precede His second coming. It implies the necessity for spiritual readiness and moral vigilance.

The phrase "accounted worthy to escape" suggests that through prayer and watchfulness, believers can receive God's grace to withstand or avoid the trials and to be prepared to stand confidently before Christ at the final judgment.

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Historical Context

The Gospel of Luke was written in a period of uncertainty and turmoil for early Christians.

The author was addressing a community experiencing persecution and facing challenges to their faith.

The exact date of writing is debated, but it is generally placed between 60 and 90 AD.

The warnings regarding the end times reflected the early Christian expectation of the imminent return of Jesus and the need to be prepared for that event.

Theological Insights

From an Evangelical perspective, this verse is often understood as a call to live a life of constant readiness for the second coming of Christ.

The Catholic viewpoint might emphasize the idea of cooperating with grace through prayer and vigilance to live in a state of spiritual readiness.

In contrast, a preterist view interprets this verse as referring specifically to the impending destruction of Jerusalem that occurred in AD 70, with broader applications to being spiritually alert.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, this verse encourages individuals to remain spiritually watchful in daily life, understanding that the struggles and challenges faced are part of a larger spiritual journey.

It motivates believers to incorporate prayer into their everyday routines, to seek wisdom and guidance in tough times, and to remain conscious of their actions and how they align with their faith.

Cross-References

Mark 13:33-37: "Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is."
Matthew 24:42: "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come."
1 Thessalonians 5:6: "Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek text of this verse are:

"Watch" (γρηγορέω, grēgoreō) means to be awake or vigilant.
"Pray" (δεόμαι, deomai) implies supplication or making earnest requests to God.
"Accounted worthy" (καταξιόω, kataxioō) suggests being deemed fit or deserving.
"Escape" (ἐκφεύγω, ekpheugō) conveys the sense of fleeing from or avoiding something.
"These things that shall come to pass" refers to future events or happenings, which in the immediate context are the signs of the end times.
"To stand before" (στήκω, stēkō) typically means to stand upright, implying being in a state of readiness and resilience.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Ancient myths often include themes of vigilance and preparation for challenges or critical events.

In other religious traditions, such as Buddhism, there is an emphasis on mindfulness and watchfulness of one's mind and actions.

Similarly, Islam emphasizes prayer and steadfastness in the face of trials.

In these traditions, spiritual vigilance is akin to the alertness called for in Luke 21:36.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific viewpoint, this verse does not directly intersect with empirical study; however, psychological research acknowledges the benefits of practices like mindfulness and prayer in reducing anxiety and stress, aligning with the call for watchfulness and prayerfulness in the verse.

Commentaries

Commentary on this verse varies among scholars: 1.

William Barclay highlights the eschatological theme, emphasizing the importance of being ready for the coming of Christ at any time. 2.

Matthew Henry's Commentary suggests that the exhortation to watch and pray is essential for standing with confidence before God in the final judgment. 3.

John Gill reflects on the necessity for prayer for help and guidance through troubles, using this verse as an encouragement for personal piety and godliness.

Luke 21

Luke 21

What does Luke 21:36 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 21:36 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?